Radio-in-a-box (RIAB) is a portable, economical broadcasting system containing a laptop, mixer, CD/Cassette player, digital audio recorder, microphones and equipment needed to establish a radio station in remote or disaster locations.
[Emergency FM radio transmitter on-air at WPF Day The University of Queensland Australia School of Journalism and Communication (2010]
Emergency FM radio transmitter on-air at WPF Day
"Retrieved 2011-23-10"
History
In 2005, the
Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union
The Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU or APBU), formed in 1964, is a non-profit, professional association of broadcasting organisations. It currently has over 287 members in 57 countries and regions, reaching a potential audience of about 3 bil ...
(ABU), with the assistance from the
(UNESCO), began development of an economical, compact, and easily transportable radio system that could be employed in remote areas or in response to disasters.
[Radio-in-a-Box powers Bangladeshi community radio (2011]
Radio-in-a-Box powers Bangladeshi community radio
"Retrieved 2011-23-10" In response to the
2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami,
Radio Netherlands Worldwide
Radio Netherlands (RNW; nl, Radio Nederland Wereldomroep) was a public radio and television network based in Hilversum, producing and transmitting programmes for international audiences outside the Netherlands from 1947 to 2012.
Its services ...
(RNW) developed a portable radio station in 20 ft shipping container. Due to the long transit time of shipping a container by ship, RNW developed a smaller, rapid response set that measures 80 cm X 70 cm X 70 cm and weighs approximately 15 Kilograms.
[Rapid Response Radio for Haiti (2010)]
Rapid Response Radio for Haiti
"Retrieved 2011-02-11"
RIAB Capabilities
RIAB systems differ in sizes. Some RIAB systems measure as small as 55 cm X 50 cm or as large as a twenty-foot shipping container.
[UNESCO helps ABU to develop low-cost mobile broadcasting system UNESCO (2007]
"Retrieved 2011-23-10" Once delivered to a designated site, RIAB systems may be operational within one hour.
[Low Cost Radio Broadcasting for All (2011)]
Low Cost Radio Broadcasting for All
"Retrieved 2011-23-10" RIAB systems can be transported easily on airplanes or helicopters to reach remote areas or disaster areas to provide information to people on the ground.
[RNW Sends 'Radio in a Box' to Haiti (2010)]
RNW Sends 'Radio in a Box' to Haiti
"Retrieved 2011-14-10"[Afghanistan’s “radio war” (2010)]
Afghanistan’s “radio war”
"Retrieved 2011-14-10" RIABs have a variety of transmitters that range in power from 30 watt to 1000 watts.
RIAB systems may be static or mounted in a vehicle for mobile operations.
Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) built a 30 watt radio-in-a-box system for approximately $5000 USD.
The approximate annual cost of establishing and maintaining a RIAB in Afghanistan is $27,000.
[In Afghan Fight, U.S. Takes to the Airwaves (2010)]
"Retrieved 2011-14-10"
Civilian Application
Radio-in-a-box systems have been employed in disaster areas where broadcasting infrastructure has been destroyed in order to provide those affected with much needed information.
Radio Netherlands Worldwide (RNW) delivered one RIAB system to Padang, Indonesia following the September 30, 2009 earthquake, one RIAB system to Haiti following the January 12, 2010 earthquake and two RIAB systems to Chile following the February 27, 2010 earthquake. Additional radio-in-a-box systems have been delivered to eight countries in Africa, Bhutan, India, Jamaica, and Tonga.
[RNW Sends 'Radio in a Box' to Chile (2010)]
RNW Sends 'Radio in a Box' to Chile
"Retrieved 2011-30-10"
United States Military Employment In Afghanistan
Radio is the dominant information tool to reach wide audiences in isolated, mountainous regions. The US military has deployed RIABs throughout Afghanistan in order to communicate with the residents. Due to a 70 percent illiteracy rate and lack of education in Afghanistan radio is a vital communications tool used to broadcast information where radio ownership exceeds 80 percent.
[Radio in a Box (2011)]
Radio in a Box
"Retrieved 2011-14-10" The United States military operates approximately 100 RIABs and hire local Afghan DJs in Afghanistan to broadcast information and host call-in shows.
[Radio in a Box - Giving Afghanistans Their Own Voice! (2010)]
"Retrieved 2011-14-10" The United States Army employed RIAB systems to broadcast anti-Taliban and anti-Al Qaeda messages and countered Taliban propaganda by pushing onto Taliban frequencies in Paktia Province.
[Army radio connects with Afghans
(2009)]
"Retrieved 2011-10-30"[Military Embraces Counterinsurgency in Afghanistan (2008)]
Radio in a Box - Military Embraces Counterinsurgency in Afghanistan
"Retrieved 2011-11-11" One advantage of employing RIAB systems is the ability to broadcast vital information immediately to a large audience in the event of a crisis.
One Afghan DJ has 50,000 listeners.
Nawa District Governor Abdul Manaf uses the local RIAB station to conduct weekly call-in shows and believes the RIAB system is one of his best communication tools to inform a large audience.
[/The Busiest Man in Nawa (2011)]
The Busiest Man in Nawa
"U.S. Marine Corps Releases", "Retrieved 2011-11-10" In Afghanistan's Paktika province, which has a literacy rate of two percent, an estimated 92 percent of the residents listen to the radio every day.
Radio programs transmitted using RIAB systems provide beneficial information to Afghan farmers in remote areas.
In the isolated, mountainous Wazi Kwah district of
Paktika Province
Paktika (Pashto/ Dari: ) is one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan, located in the eastern part of the country. Forming part of the larger Loya Paktia region, Paktika has a population of about 789,000, mostly ethnic Pashtuns. The town of Sharan ...
, a RIAB system supplies the only source of outside news.
[Local DJ celebrity to his Afghan listeners (2010)]
Local DJ celebrity to his Afghan listeners
"Retrieved 2011-10-14" Afghan National Army commanders use the RIAB to communicate to villagers and elders and provide thoughts to the community.
[Radio-in-a-Box: Afghanistan's New Warrior-DJs (2011)]
"Retrieved 2011-10-14" Afghans trust messages from the United States military that explain important information such as what to do when a military convoy approaches and agriculture programs. For general news, Afghans prefer other outlets of information such as the
BBC #REDIRECT BBC
Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board exam. ...
or
VOA
Voice of America (VOA or VoA) is the state-owned news network and international radio broadcaster of the United States of America. It is the largest and oldest U.S.-funded international broadcaster. VOA produces digital, TV, and radio content ...
because RIAB systems are controlled by the US military.
[The Pentagon, Information Operations, and International
Media Development (2010)]
The Pentagon, Information Operations, and International Media Development
"A Report to the Center for International Media Assistance", :e27 "Retrieved 2011-10-14" Special Operations first employed RIAB systems in Afghanistan in 2005 which improved their ability to supply information to and communicate with the local population in their areas of operation.
[Breaking the Afghan Insurgency (2007)]
Breaking the Afghan Insurgency
"Special Warfare" 20 (5):e26 "Retrieved 2011-11-10"
See also
*
Voice of America
Voice of America (VOA or VoA) is the state-owned news network and international radio broadcaster of the United States of America. It is the largest and oldest U.S.-funded international broadcaster. VOA produces digital, TV, and radio content ...
*
Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union
The Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU or APBU), formed in 1964, is a non-profit, professional association of broadcasting organisations. It currently has over 287 members in 57 countries and regions, reaching a potential audience of about 3 bil ...
*
Radio Netherlands Worldwide
Radio Netherlands (RNW; nl, Radio Nederland Wereldomroep) was a public radio and television network based in Hilversum, producing and transmitting programmes for international audiences outside the Netherlands from 1947 to 2012.
Its services ...
References
{{Reflist
External links
The CPD Blog is intended to stimulate dialog among scholars, researchers, practitioners and professionals from around the world in the public diplomacy sphere. The opinions represented here are the authors' own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the USC Center on Public Diplomacy.
The Harris AM/FM flyaway package.
Radio Station in a box for tsunami disaster
Radio technology